Global Marine Exploration Inc. President & CEO Robert H Pritchett is proud to announce the discovery of possibly three (3) mid 16th to 17th century shipwreck scatter (debris) fields. Artifacts in these scatter fields include, three highly ornate bronze cannon (2-10’ and 1-7’), 19 iron cannon, 12 anchors, a 39-inch grinding wheel as well as scattered ballast and munitions, and what is believed to be a Marble monument with the Coat of Arms of France, from the early colonial period.

In May of 2016 during Global Marine Exploration Inc. identification phase of a Florida State authorized Permit for historical shipwreck exploration, COO William Seliger, and divers Thomas Riffaud and Juan Bautista of Global Marine Exploration Inc. Tampa, Florida, discovered the two bronze cannons, stone grinding wheel and Coat of Arms, with a 3rd bronze cannon being discovered during verification with archaeologist Jim Sinclair.

The first traces of these artifacts in the form of iron cannon were discovered in Sept of 2015 at the end of the diving season. The remote sensing magnetometer survey was completed by GME’s Capt. Larry Boswell and VP. Ron Alber.

The artifacts listed above have been diver verified, mapped and examined in situ by GME investigators. Underwater video and photographs have also been taken and detailed drawings have been made of select artifacts on site.Initial findings suggested the possibility that these were the remains of the lost French ships commanded by Jean Ribault in 1565, but subsequent physical evidence and historical research by the GME archaeological team have ruled out that possibility, and the identity of the sunken vessel or vessels may never be known.

GME chief archaeologist Jim Sinclair, MA Working along with Dr. John DeBry of the Center for Historic Research, have suggested the historical and archaeological significance of these artifacts cannot be overstated. One of the bronze cannon has markings linking it to the reign of Henry II and was likely cast in the 1540’s. The French Coat of Arms on the marble monument alone is a priceless artifact, as it would have possibly been connected to the first French attempts at New World Colonization, the Protestant Huguenots and the founding of Spanish Florida at St Augustine.

The GME archaeological team is comprised of Jim Sinclair, RPA; Dr. John DeBry, Center for Historic Research, Melbourne, Florida, and consulting archaeologist, Dr. Robert Baer, RPA. In addition, GME is proud to include the well-respected archivist and historian, Dr. Eugene Lyon, as a member of its team. Dr. Lyon is a recognized authority on the early Spanish Colonial Period in Florida and is the author of ‘The Enterprise of Florida’, the definitive biography of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, the first Spanish Governor of Florida (1565-1568), as well as other publishing.

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, has stated that his office would like to look at a partnership with GME to continue this investigation to a successful completion. Over the past two years GME and Mr. Pritchett have worked closely with the State of Florida Cultural Officers that include Director, Dr. Tim Parsons of the Department of Historic Resources and the BAR Bureau Chief, Dr. Mary Glowacki. Under the auspices of BAR, Global Marine Exploration has successfully completed 14 permits with both the Florida Department of Historic Resources and the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research. With this critical support Mr. Pritchett believes that these permits as well as future permits will lead to continued success in the field and answer a multitude of research questions for these areas.

The recovery, conserving, cataloguing and analysis of these important shipwreck artifacts that are deteriorating in the harsh off-shore Cape Canaveral, marine environment will be scientifically conserved in the GME conservation laboratory in Tampa, Florida once rescued/recovered.

For more information please contact Robert Pritchett at Global Marine Exploration – 813-684-9349 or email at bpb1313@gmail.com .